PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (NC SC) Minor flooding in eastern North Carolina and South Carolina

Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:28:49 EST

Summary: Heavy rainfall over parts of eastern North Carolina and South Carolina this past weekend has resulted in flooding in some of the eastern river basins within these two states.

A strong coastal storm brought heavy rains to eastern North Carolina and South Carolina during the weekend of December 16-17. Rainfall totals of 2 to 3+ inches were widespread across the Coastal Plain regions of both states, but higher totals of 6 to 10+ inches were noted across the coastal counties from Charleston County (SC) northward through Columbus and Robeson Counties in southeastern NC.

In eastern NC, minor flooding is occurring or forecasted to occur over the next few days in some of the river basins. Moderate flooding is forecast for one site at USGS Sta. 02087570 Neuse River at Smithfield.

In SC, the heaviest rainfall totals were along the coast from Charleston northward into the Grand Strand. Many of the rivers in the Edisto River Basin and the Lower Pee Dee Basin have risen considerably over the past 24 hours and will continue to rise through much of the week before declining. Widespread minor river flooding and bankfull rises will continue from coastal Georgia through South Carolina through this week as water drains through the lower reaches of the river systems. Moderate river flooding is also being observed or forecast in isolated basins as well.

The USGS has 5 field crews from the Raleigh Field Office, 2 from the Charleston Field Office, and 2 from the Savannah Field Office that are currently in the field completing discharge measurements and gathering other flood-related data.